Roland D-550

Roland D-550 is a rack module version of D-50 synthesizer, with slight "cosmetic" changes to OS. Unlike it's keyboard brother, it looks somewhat less cooler, doesn't have joystick, and alphanumeric keys. Also, LCD is of awesome sapphire backlight.

Since this review would be paralell to the of D-50, I recommend http://www.harmony-central.com/Synth/Data/Roland/D_50-1.html while I focus on differences between these two.

Slight difference are key shortcuts, also the editing is a little more awkward, because there's no nice diagram describing the enigmatic "modes" and "routing" of the engines.

D-550 manual is almost identical to D-50, with several enhancements in form of work diagrams.

D-550 is also hardware compatible with D-50 so sysex can be shared between two without slight problems.

Nice feature of D-550 is that there is setting for overall reverb volume (not present in D-50), so you can bypass the reverb without changing the programs.

The rest applies to D-50 as well (skipping).

Would apply to D-50, though I can't get loose of a feeling that D-550 sounds a little brighter, but this might be the effect that I'm not playing with D-50 keyboard...

Heavy duty build- PSU is not autoswitching though, but interestingly, by resolder one wire, you can switch from 110 to 220/240 volt without problems.

N/A

It's a D-50 without keyboard, baby! Definitely worth having if you lack space for keyboards :)

Presets are excellent for me

Not hard to edit

Manual is thick.

I don't know a polyphony from a phony

I'm a guitar guy but Im in the world of home recording now.

It has massive expansion capability

Ok I got this thing in a local music store recently which was new but old stock for 150.00. I could not turn it down. Little did i know what i got. I;ve tried all kinds of VST instruments, and let me tell you this unit sounds so sweet for overdumbing / layering synth tracks to recordings which is all i will ever use the thing for. Unless i get around to taking piano lessons. Great strings, bells, but this thing shines in the organ department. I comes real close to real thing. Close enough that if it's in a mix you will not tell the difference. This unit produces warm rich tones. Doesn't sound digitally disapointing. I would love to know what sounds are on the other cards. I have yet to find a source for this. Please let me know. I can here stuff i've heard on countless movie scores. If i were making a horror film I would definatly use this unit. I am sure you can't get some of these sounds on newer units. Newer is not always better. Back in the day they used better parts and didn't cut corners on Roland and Boss gear. I have a collection of 80' boss pedals as well.

This is one of my favourits - it sounds great.

But to program its not so nice, but it works.

The manual is pedagogic, but maby too widespread. A kickstart manual added should be great

16 voices polyphony, dual timbral.

There was a expansion card that made D50/D550 multitimbral and added new waveforms too.

When it camed in the 80s it knocked out all other synths, including the DX7. And still today it sounds awesome.

The D550 is the 19" rack version of the D50

It has a special "LA"-sound

It works like a tank

As ever with Roland: pay and be happy

I like this mashine very much, and would have a new one again in my setup if it were stolen or so. But It will not be stolen!

Please visit my D550 page at www.soundofmusic.se